Sony Z series 32bit Vista Clean Install Guide (full functions & no windows activation)

MegaMan, thankyou vey much that worked. A couple more questions:

When I was doing the clean install, I deleted and formatted the recovery partition on the hard drive. However, later I noticed that the partition remained on the hard drive and that it was blank, but there was no drive letter associated with it, it was still named "recovery" and it stated "unallocated". I tried deleting it with partition magic but it was unable to do it.

So now I am back in the process of a full factory settings restore.

Please let me know what I might be doing wrong and also how I may be able to claim back the 10Gb from that other partition.

 

I did a clean install but even though the drivers installed, I dont see the sprint broadband device under DevMan, and the Wi Connect util doesnt show it - nor is there a sprint icon on desktop anymore. Im hoping someone can help me out here.

 

actually, just uninstalling SmartWi and reinstalling it worked. Must not have installed it before i installed SP1 and the Sony parser soft.

 

I am getting the z series very soon, and borrow my friend vista OEM dvd. It said vista home premium 32 bits dell reinstallation disc (He owns a dell xps m1330)

Can i use his disc to do a clean installation of vista business on the sony z series (n ot premium? had anyone done that ?

thanks

 

I believe that the disc contains all versions of vista, it's the license key that's limited. So when you use it to reinstall, just select the version that your key is for. (and use the activation backup talked about elsewhere on these forums, otherwise you'll have to call home to microsoft to get it working again).

 

Thks for the reply... has anyone using the dell disc before?

I know but dell may modify it.... hence my question

How do u use the md5sum to check.. sorry I am not very good at computers

 

Megaman.... Awesome Post. Thanks so much... Your post almosts overrules the nice smoking new "Z" I purchased... I love this machine.

Anyway, When I started Z when I recieved it showed in the Windows Info startup screen I had 4gb installed for memory. After doing you clean install it now shows only 2.93gb installed.

I went back and re-installed my recovery disks to make sure and sure enough 4gb on a 32bit system. Then I installed Vista Ultimate, and later tonight going to do the rest, but I am assuming I will have 2.93 again.

Any thoughts anyone,

LOVE MY "Z" - 10 year dell fan, and you will be hard to get me back. Just a flawless CTO 540 - 4 days after ordering it arrived in Canada. Awesome Sony just Awesome.

 

Once again, for the gazillionth time, if you are using a 32 BIT OS, you will only have ~3GB available memory.

This is a limitation of a 32-bit OS. If you want your extra 1GB back, use Vista x64....

 

Sleey0,

Yes I understand that 100%. However, listen closely to this. That is why I am puzzled.

My "Z" came with Vista Home Premium. When I started it, it should 4gb on the Vista Welcome Screen!!!!! Which I found funny, due to exactly what you said.

Then I did a clean install with a copy of Vista Ultimate I own. It showed 2.93gb at the same Welcome Screen. So I was curious that maybe the Home Premium was a 64 bit, so I did a recovery of my system back to orginal that I made right off the bat. Guess what! 4gb shown, then inside the details it showed 32 bit version.

So I thought maybe after a vista update it would change. So I fresh installed Vista Ultimate again, it stills shows 2.93gb, and is also 32 bit.

So I am just checking if anybody knows what gives, this doesn't make any sense. Thought it may have been the Intel graphix using the rest, etc.

Also my HTPC is the same Vista Ultimate package, 32 bit, it shows 4gb. I can do a screen shot to show this if you like...

If there is a simple answer then maybe it can help everyone else. Can anyone confirm with a new "Z" if they have 4gb shown on the vista welcome screen????

 

The simple answer is you did not update to SP1. Read this entirely.

 

I got the same thing too. So what I did was wiped the data off the drive using the recovery DVD I created before installing the vista proper.

 

Yes, but you need to modify it using vlite in order to use it.

Your Vaio came with service pack 1 (SP1) preinstalled, and when you installed Vista Ultimate, you didn't install SP1 like my guide told you too.

Again...follow the guide and install Service Pack 1 when it tells you to

 

Read next Post I just screwed up!

Never thought of SP1, but no that is not it. I double checked the disk and it has sp1 on the label.

I also looked at the welcome screen now with the clean install and it has sp1 also. It has not been connected to the internet yet, due to I wanted the system to be perfect, then do another recovery system backup.

Any other thoughts. I did double check tonight and the HTPC also says 32bit and shows 4gb.

Howevr I am going to read the above posted thread to make sure, thanks for the helps guys. Maybe it is a brain fart on my part. All the buttons, contrast - eject everything functions perfect, just this dan 2.93gb is left, which may make no difference, just being perfectionist.

 

OK You Guys win.....

My Bad... When I tried the second time doing a clean install I did try inadvertantly another Vista disk, and after checking that, yep was not SP1. Sorry my mistake, and I am embarassed to say so. Both darn disks look the same, I just used wrong one.

SP1 WAS IT! OOOOPS!

You guys rock almost as much as my new "Z" Did I tell all of you Guys I LOVE my "Z"

 

lol James! you're funny!

Btw why did you have to do clean install x 2? yikes.. I wish I had that much free time! Lol (still have 1 paper to do!)

 

I didn't think that there was full driver support for VISTA 64 on the Z, is there? Has anyone successfully put VISTA 64 on a Z?

 

Thks for the reply... Care to teach me how to modify it? sorry have not used vlite before...


Thks

BTW, bought the z series.... love it to bits

 

Just a quick question about the vaio control center vs the the windows mobility center. It seems that most of the VCC have a duplicate features. Also hate the VCC about the pop up notification about a new profile about wireless connection (anyone knows how to turn it off?)

So, any problems of not installing VCC?

I know I will lost s1 s2 function. What about the eject button and the presentation mode? will it work?

 

Guys, i have a UK Z laptop. I am going to wipe both the C and recovery partition and install Vista Ultimate 32bit with Sp1. What do i need to do different ie, to get the wwan to work.

I also have Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Premier Elements and Vaio Dvd software i'd also like to reinstall after the install but where will i find all the installation files from?

TIA

 

The link on step 24 doesn't work. (For the Intel X4500 graphics drivers)

 

"On the partitioning window you will see 2 partitions, Disk 0 Partition 1, and Disk 0 Partition 2. If you have a machine with 2 hard drives, you'll probably see those also. The "Disk 0 Partition 1" is where your current Vista install is located."


This is really weird. I cannot view or delete the recovery partition during the vista install. i only see Disk 0 Partition 1.

any ideas?

 

There are no 64bit Nvidia Drivers that have been released that will work with the Z. So in short, no, no one has sucessfully any version of 64bit Vista on a Z

Just browse through the vLite forums. Honestly, they have guides on there:

http://www.msfn.org/board/vLite-f153.html

http://www.msfn.org/board/Tutorial-Build-Windows-Vista-SP1-x86-D-t114957.html

I know the eject button would not work. I have never used the presentation mode, so maybe it will? Not sure.

They are actually all located in your Recovery DVDs. You should be able to access all the installation files from the Recovery Center.

Intel updates their websites periodically, so here's the newest link as of now:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Det...strOSs=163&OSFullName=Windows Vista*&lang=eng

If you can't find the partition, I suggest you using some 3rd party partition manager, delete it, and then reinstall windows.

Here's the first link that came up in google that might help:

http://www.thefreecountry.com/utilities/partitioneditors.shtml

 

Where to find UK model WLAN drivers?

 

just reinstalling all the drivers etc and now the apps.

1. I've installed the SD Card Reader drivers but cannot see the drive in Exploer nor see it in windows disk management. I can see the MS reader.

UPDATE:

Since i cannot find the WWAN drivers, I reinstalled Vista Ultimate again and this time copied Vaio Recovery to c:\pro...\recovery....... to reinstall programs and drivers.

When prompted for disk 2, bang, Error 505:41. I can install the Drivers fine but none of the programs for ie WLAN, WWAN.

I can't even download the rapid share link, it just times out at the end. :-(

Is my 2nd recovery cd duff or is it looking for something on the HDD that isn't there.

I made a image using backup exec system recovery so will try to restore that and recreate the recovery cds.

 

Will this guide work with Japanese Home Premium Vista ?

 

@Lydecker, i'm in more or less in the same boat as you were. I tried to use the recovery CD but Error's too. (error in my previous post)

1. Where did you get version 2 from, i only see v1.2 for the TZ31VN/X, is this the one you mean?
2. Protection Suite & TMP Software. I have a copy of the TMP software which i found the install files on the root of C, but whats the Protection Suite?
3. Just to confirm, you used WWAN Connection Manager for XP (downgrade Section) v2.3 for the connection software?
4. Do you see the SD Card Slot in Windows Explorer, i don't and don't know why. There are no errors in device manager except for the WLAN.

 

Wheres the Sony Z reinstallers gone?

@St_Carlo, WLAN drivers from http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Product_Filter.aspx?ProductID=2963&lang=eng

Just to give an update.

I restored my system back to original vista business and was then browsing around and found most of the vista drivers already on my C:\ in:

C:\Drivers\INF and C:\Drivers\EXE
C:\programs Files\option (WWAN drivers)
C:\infinion (TMP)

I then reinstalled Vista Ultimate again and installed all the drivers (which I had backed up from C drive) via device manager and by clicking on the exe's.

I downloaded and installed and WLAN drivers from the Intel website.

I then used the Apps download link at the start of this thread to install all the applications in the order stated. These apps appear to be newer than the ones on the UK website.

I then downloaded and installed the XP WWAN Connection Manager (this also came with the drivers I previously found in C:\Program Files\Option\). This is no way as nice as the T-Mobile software that was installed in the first place ie SMS, Contacts etx :-( but I’m guessing you can use this with any network and sim whereas the T-Mobile one is only for T-Mobile.

I then installed and XP Protector Suite 5.6 but this couldn’t initialise for an unknown reason. The fingerprint reader is installed.

I then download (from TZ31VN/X) and installed VAIO Smart Network Program but this seemed to install and error, and that’s it. I tried again and no error this time but there no confirmation that it successfully installed. I also could not locate that floating grey wireless VAIO network manager that my laptop shipped with.

In the end,

1, the protector Suite cannot initialise but then managed to read fingers prints :-S
2, Windows kept complaining about AHCI issues and provided a solution that goes to the Intel website and downloads and installs but Windows still kept complaining and taking me back to the Intel site.
3, could not find to install Intel Matrix Storage Manager. I download it from Intel and it said my system is not supported.
4, VAIO Smart Network Program not working
5, SD Card Slot in Windows Explorer only appears where there’s a SD card in there. Before it was always there as the D drive.

I’ve now again restored my system back to Vista Business and had enough!

 

Has anybody an idea where to get the german t-mobile wwan drivers? I guess the sprint drivers won't work for me.

 

OKay, i just installed my new wd hd. and installed my ram.. i have 4gb now.. woohoo.. this leads me to some problems or situations after following this guide. i have a tz and a z... on my tz there are programs vaio central, vaio batt. management. alps mouse thingy.. i follwed the installation guide and installed the other stuff but i dont see where i can find some of these tools. like the battery management to set my batt for 50% charge. etc.. and another problem i dont know where to set up my s1 and s2 keys.. can someone help me?

 

I did a recovery of a clean install of Windows XP SP3 from sony which has only the required drivers as part of the "fresh install" feature when I ordered it. Everything worked fine until I updated to the latest Direct X 9.0c with the latest updated October 2008 distribution.

Now I cannot switch between the hybrid graphics system because the Intel driver will install but won't "take" in the OS. Every time I also turn the Z590N down and switch to speed I have to reinstall the nvidia drivers and reboot a second time.

I tried all available Intell express 4 graphics drivers and they all did the same thing, they're stuck in lowest resolution (640/480) in 4-bit color mode.

If I remove Intel driver in stamina mode and reboot in stamina mode the default vga driver looks better since it actually gives me 24-bit color and up to 1024 by 768 resolution.

Anyone else experience this issue after updating DirectX on Win XP SP3??

I will report it to Sony if no one has a fix/workaround.

Thank you,

 

lazytrax: you can find all of the z drivers on the vaio site. just have it detect your model and theyre all listed on the page of the "SmartWi Connection utility" as they are prerequisites for the smartWi driver to be installed

 

Will this Vista Clean Install Guide work for the TZ?

The only thing that changes is the place that I have to download the drivers and utilities right? Any link? I have a japanese TZ90

 

The Quickguide on installing XP on Sony Vaio TZ:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=159585

 

Ok, because I had 92 processes running at my new Z I did the clean install but...

I am stuck at point #21 of the guide. It says download Z drives from a link but I can't connect to internet, because is missing the network driver. I must do it from another computer first? And the link of ISamux doesn't work (Z drivers).

 

Yes you should prepare the drivers before you start XP installation. If they did not mention that they should.

You can download the drivers from Sony.co.uk /sony.com etc.

 

Phil this is a guide of Vista clean install, not XP. So, I should have downloaded the drivers before?? Is it the same if I burn them to a DVD and after install them to the Z?

The problem is now that the Z is not connecting to the web.

 

Yes you should download the drivers and put them either on a DVD / USB key / harddrive where you can access them.

 

Where can I download the drivers of the Vista Z?

The link in the first page is not working.

 

www.sony.com

 

Ok, quite finished.

In the device manager, after the network adapters there are: Other devices...I didn't find the drivers for those...The first is Network Controller and the other two Unknown devices.
Any idea guys?
Are not working still the wireless, the S1 and S2 buttons and the switch Speed.

 

Where can I take Intel wireless driver??

Every time I boot I get this message: ''Caution...The installed battery may not be compatible with the computer.

Click Ok to enter Hibernate, and remove the battery and reinsert the battery''.

I aready did it twice but nothing..still same message appears! Why the ***did I did clean install!

 

www.intel.com
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Fil...963&OSFullName=All Operating Systems&lang=eng

You can always recover if you have recovery partition or dvd's.

First try to make it work. Did you install all the utlities?

 

I can't believe it...Acronis doesn't as well, I try to recover from dvd's but it writes the error: Acronis True Image Home has not found any hard disk drives. Anyone help guys?

 

Have you still got your recovery partition? If so, just use that (I think you press F10 during startup) to recover your original Vista. Then at least you can make sure you've got all the drivers and everything that you might need before you try the clean install again?

 

Man, I deleted it! I thought ok, who needs it? Anyway I have the recovery dvd's...But no, there are not working either! For the moment the Z is without OS. I just put again the Vista disk to reinstall the OS. Infy, you that you have a european model can you tell me the exact order of the drivers and utilities? I don't want to install something wrong again...

 

Try downloading the latest version of Acronis (free trial), and burn a bootable CD with it.

The latest version has SATA driver support.

 

Sorry man, I've never installed Vista using either retail or OEM discs. I just downgraded my Z using the disc supplied by Sony and followed the exact order for drivers and utilities stated on www.vaio-link.com... worked for me.

 

Now I installed the Vista. Everything is big as Megaman Z says...so now wich drivers first?

Edit:
Never mind I will downgrade to XP. I have enough of this clean install.

 

Is it working the HDMI with XP? Because i remember someone saying that may not work under XP.

 

Philflow confirmed HDMI works in XP recently, I think.